Orange County Grand Jury
• 2025-2026
Unbalanced Authority Oversight and Accountability in Orange County Governmen
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 9 findings
F1
Elected County officials exercise substantial autonomy in managing their departments while administering functions involving significant public financial responsibilities.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
The County lacks sufficient authority, structures and internal controls to ensure effective oversight and accountability of elected officials.
Related Recommendations (4)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should draft one or more of the proposed amendments to the County charter to be submitted to voters in order to strengthen the Board’s ability to exercise appropriate governance oversight of elected officials by December 31, 2026. Amendments: • Authorization for the Board of Supervisors to remove an elected official for cause by a four-fifths supermajority vote. • Authorization for the Board of Supervisors to convert an elected office to an appointed position. • Authorization to consolidate compatible County departments and merge two elected or appointed offices into one elected position.
R2
The Board of Supervisors should adopt a policy mandating regularly scheduled audits or performance reviews of elected officials
R3
The Board of Supervisors should direct the County Internal Audit Department to develop standardized procedures for publicly reporting corrective actions taken in response to audit findings involving offices of elected officials
R4
The Board of Supervisors should establish a formal process for periodic public reporting and discussion of internal audit findings involving departments administered by elected officials, including presentation of audit results at Board meetings to promote transparency and accountability to Orange County residents
F3
The Orange County Charter does not provide the Board of Supervisors with authority to address misconduct or performance deficiencies involving elected officials.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should draft one or more of the proposed amendments to the County charter to be submitted to voters in order to strengthen the Board’s ability to exercise appropriate governance oversight of elected officials by December 31, 2026. Amendments: • Authorization for the Board of Supervisors to remove an elected official for cause by a four-fifths supermajority vote. • Authorization for the Board of Supervisors to convert an elected office to an appointed position. • Authorization to consolidate compatible County departments and merge two elected or appointed offices into one elected position.
F4
Some counties in California have amended their charters to strengthen oversight and implement internal controls for elected officials.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Several counties in California have transitioned specific non-constitutional county offices from elected to appointed positions to ensure better accountability.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
Consolidating compatible County elected offices can improve efficiency, reduce duplication, and strengthen oversight.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Independent audits provide an effective mechanism for identifying operational weaknesses, governance concerns, and compliance issues within departments administered by elected officials.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Board of Supervisors should adopt a policy mandating regularly scheduled audits or performance reviews of elected officials
F8
The County Internal Audit Department is an important entity that functions as independent oversight reporting directly to the Board of Supervisors and conducts audits in accordance with recognized professional auditing standards.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
The Board of Supervisors has expanded Internal Audit Department’s responsibilities to include performance auditing; however, sufficient staffing and resources are required to support this expanded role. -2026
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The Board of Supervisor should ensure that the County Internal Audit Department maintains sufficient staffing and budgetary resources to carry out its expanded responsibilities for operational performance reviews and oversight of departments administered by elected officials
In the News 6
News coverage of this report, automatically tracked.
Calls for more oversight - LAist
LAist
· June 25, 2026
OC grand jury calls for allowing elected officials to be ousted for misconduct - LAist
LAist
· June 25, 2026
The Orange County oversight gap no one talked about during the election - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
· June 24, 2026
Grand Jury Questions if Orange County Can Hold Elected Officials Accountable
Voice of OC
· June 23, 2026
O.C. grand jury supports reforms to oust elected county officials for misconduct - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
· June 20, 2026
Orange County Grand Jury Calls for Reforms to Remove 2 Elected Leaders - MyNewsLA.com
MyNewsLA.com
· June 13, 2026